Deputy opens fire near Costco; two in custody

June 17, 2010

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

1 of 10

Deputies move the suspect to another car after a witness identification process at the scene as deputies investigate after shots were fired in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. Deputies pursued a black Chevrolet SUV believed to have fled from a San Clemente burglary, Thursday, June 17. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Evidence at the scene where gun shots were fired shows a bullet hole in the left rear window of a black Chevrolet SUV as deputies investigate in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Deputies investigate near a black Chevrolet SUV after shots were fired in a Costco parking lot after deputies pursued the SUV which was believed to have fled from a San Clemente burglary. Ken Steinhardt, The Orange County Register

1 of 10

Sheriff's investigators look closely at evidence after shots were fired in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. Deputies pursued a black Chevrolet SUV believed to have fled from a San Clemente burglary, Thursday. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Costco shoppers clear the parking lot after shots were fired in the Laguna Niguel after deputies pursued a black Chevrolet SUV believed to have fled from a San Clemente burglary. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Deputies move the yellow tape barrier back as the investigation continues in Laguna Niguel. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Shoppers Cindy Kaye, left, and Michelle Carmo pass the time at the scene as Kaye waits for her husband to pick her up at the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot because her car is part of the investigation. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Deputies investigate near a black Chevrolet SUV after shots were fired in a Costco parking lot after deputies pursued the SUV which was believed to have fled from a San Clemente home burglary. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Shelters are set up after shots were fired in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. Store patrons who were parked there at the time of the shooting have been told that the area will be cordoned off until about 4 p.m. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

The suspect waits at the scene in a Sheriff's cruiser as deputies investigate in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Deputies move the suspect to another car after a witness identification process at the scene as deputies investigate after shots were fired in the Laguna Niguel Costco parking lot. Deputies pursued a black Chevrolet SUV believed to have fled from a San Clemente burglary, Thursday, June 17. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA NIGUEL – Two men are in custody following a San Clemente burglary and police pursuit that ended when a deputy opened fire in a Costco parking lot Thursday, authorities said.

No one was injured in the shooting and authorities said the two men being held resemble the description given by a woman who came home to find two men inside her home, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

One of the men was taken into custody shortly after the shots were fired in the parking lot, authorities said. A second man was taken into custody a short distance away, waiting inside a burger restaurant after he called for a cab to pick him up.

Officials are investigating to confirm whether the two men were those spotted by the woman who returned to her home in the 2800 block of Calle Guadalajara in San Clemente, Amormino said.

The woman arrived home just after 12 p.m. and found two men inside, he said. The men, who were carrying a pillow case filled with items, climbed into a black Chevrolet after leaving the house through a side door, he said.

A deputy who was driving on I-5 freeway, near the Camino de Estrella exit, spotted an SUV matching the one described by the woman and began to follow it, Amormino said.

The deputy lost sight of the vehicle for a few minutes, spotted it again near Avery Parkway, then lost it again for a few seconds as the driver tried to flee, Amormino said.

At the intersection of Camino Capistrano and Paseo de Colinas, the deputy again found the SUV.

"The guy was driving fast, running red lights," Amormino said.

At Cabot Road and Crown Valley Parkway, the driver of the Tahoe pulled into a Costco parking lot.

At about 12:15 p.m., deputies reported that shots were fired in the parking lot.

Amormino said it is unknown how many shots were fired, but the deputy did open fire in the parking lot, he said. It was not immediately known if the suspect opened fire as well. No one was injured in the shooting.

The second suspect was taken into custody at A's Ace Burgers along Camino Capistrano, where he had apparently called for a cab to pick him up, Amormino said. The suspect matched a description provided by the woman.

Authorities will be conducting a field lineup to verify if the two men in custody were involved in the San Clemente burglary, Amormino said.

Inside the Tahoe, deputies recovered several times, he said. Authorities are checking whether they were taken from the woman's home.

Officials cordoned off the Costco parking lot for about an hour during their investigation, keeping patrons from coming in or out during that time. By 2 p.m., authorities opened up the parking lot, allowing customers to leave and enter again.

Related Links

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.